Water consumption

musiclvr56

I have an interest in the environment-don't want to waste water.  I read the following:"you will lengthen the life of your garbage disposal by running it a few times a week even if you don't have food to put down."    What are your thoughts?  I'm not sure this is the right forum to ask this.  If not, which website/link would you suggest?  Thanks!

Cardew

The first thing that comes to mind is are garbage disposal units necessary and environmentally friendly? They are banned in some countries.

There is a load of information on-line and arguments both ways, and I have no idea who is correct. The main concern is the ability of water treatment plants to filter and handle pulverised food.

michaels

Water is not consumed, it is merely rented for a while then returned to the environment.  Water treatment and processing are not hugely energy or chemical intensive on a per litre basis.  The 'water shortage' is all about the UK not being willing to invest in infrastructure to support the growing population and thus trying to reduce usage through price increases under the cover of 'environmentalism'.

Ectophile

Like most mechanical things, if you don't use it, it will eventually seize.

But if you want to be environmentally friendly, get a compost bin.

Ectophile

michaels said:

Water is not consumed, it is merely rented for a while then returned to the environment.  Water treatment and processing are not hugely energy or chemical intensive on a per litre basis.  The 'water shortage' is all about the UK not being willing to invest in infrastructure to support the growing population and thus trying to reduce usage through price increases under the cover of 'environmentalism'.

It's not that easy in the South East.  We can't keep sucking more groundwater out of bore holes or else the level will get lower every year.  In summer, you can only take so much from rivers without running them dry.

Which leaves running enormous pipes from wetter parts of the country, or else flooding large areas of the countryside with reservoirs.

silverwhistle

Ectophile said:

It's not that easy in the South East.  We can't keep sucking more groundwater out of bore holes or else the level will get lower every year.  In summer, you can only take so much from rivers without running them dry.

Yes. Last summer my local stream which runs off the Downs did run dry due to excessive abstraction. As for the comment about water shortages, that is completely !!!!!! about face. Remember the water companies have been privatised. Whatever you may think about their record of repairing pipe leaks, the fact is that any increase in infrastructure which is needed is paid for by the consumer hence rising prices, and dividends.. Blaming environmentalism is a tawdry trick.

Edit: As for the OP, no idea! But they're pretty rare in the UK and the compost heap is a far better solution.

michaels

Ectophile said:

michaels said:

Water is not consumed, it is merely rented for a while then returned to the environment.  Water treatment and processing are not hugely energy or chemical intensive on a per litre basis.  The 'water shortage' is all about the UK not being willing to invest in infrastructure to support the growing population and thus trying to reduce usage through price increases under the cover of 'environmentalism'.

It's not that easy in the South East.  We can't keep sucking more groundwater out of bore holes or else the level will get lower every year.  In summer, you can only take so much from rivers without running them dry.

Which leaves running enormous pipes from wetter parts of the country, or else flooding large areas of the countryside with reservoirs.

Personally I would be happy to see and pay for new reservoirs in the SE as they also provide a valuable amenity, our current countryside was shaped a few centuries ago by farming practices, why can't we shape some of it to suit our current needs, no one hesitates to build new houses for the expanding population, why not expand the water supply rather than just expecting everyone to go dirty?

Mickey666

musiclvr56 said:

I have an interest in the environment-don't want to waste water.  I read the following:"you will lengthen the life of your garbage disposal by running it a few times a week even if you don't have food to put down."    What are your thoughts?  I'm not sure this is the right forum to ask this.  If not, which website/link would you suggest?  Thanks!

Not really sure what you're asking.  If you want to run your garbage disposal unit a few times each week just do it when you're emptying the sink after washing up.  Or just use a bucket of rainwater.  Cutting down on your potable water consumption is a far wider subject than just worrying about best use of a waste disposal unit.